The following wording is to enhance the launch of the Lerret

In 2009 Gail Mc Garva was awarded a scholarship from the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust,funded by the Royal Warrant Holders Association,to build a Lerret, a boat wholly native to Lyme Bay,originating from 1682. A beautifully beamy double-ended clinker vessel of 17ft, elm on oak.The Trust are dedicated to the preservation of British crafts and craftsmanship.Gail has built this boat 'by eye', without the use of designer drawings,under the mentorship of Roy Gollop,one of the last remaining boatbuilders in Dorset with this particular skill.

There was only one seaworthy Lerret remaining called Vera,built in 1923 from Langton Herring,which Gail is now custodian of.The lines were taken from this boat ,to build a 'daughtership' to Vera. This new build preserves the lineage of the Lerrets, breathing new life into a new generation of this unique craft. The inherent characteristics of this vessel have remained virtually unchanged from its inception,designed to be launched and landed from the steep stoney shelved beaches of Lyme Bay.

The Lerrets though primarily used for mackerel fishing,had earned such respect for their seaworthiness,that by the early 19th century the newly formed RNLI ,adopted two Lerrets for service as life-boats. Archive material recounting their stories of saving lives at sea is extensive and quite remarkable.

The new Lerret is not a static museum exhibit but is an expression of living history.The Lerret is to be actively used as a training boat to enable young people to gain confidence at sea,develop their rowing skills and work together as team.

All boats have a story to tell and the story of the Lerret is wholly pertinent to our Dorset shores and our communities.

Gail as a traditional wooden boatbuilder is totally committed to the building of craft of historical resonance that hold vibrancy in their modern day communities.

On the 31st July the Lerret daughtership was launched from Lyme harbour alongside the mother boat Vera as a vibrant celebration of living history.The launch was part of Lyme's Lifeboat fortnight to celebrate the Lerret's history as a RNLI lifeboat.

The new Lerret and procession,complete with an oar salute from Lyme Regis Gig club, journeyed from the Boat Building Academy,who kindly housed the building of the boat,to the harbour slipway. All boat bearers and rowers were dressed in their ‘Sunday best”,white shirts and waistcoats,echoing boatyard launches of the past.A brass band heralded the arrival of the new Lerret.

Gail Mc Garva gave a speech of thanks and presented Roy Gollop as mentor with a bowler hat as a gift of appreciation for all his guidance and support.Again this echoes boat building yards of the past,where the foreman of the yard would have worn a bowler hat.

The new the Lerret was named by the president of The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust,William Gunn.She is called ‘Littlesea’,the local name for The Fleet behind Chesil Beach.Gail first heard the name from Majorie Ireland,who is 90 years old and whose family worked the Lerrets along these shores.The name ‘Littlesea’is a tribute and celebration of Majorie’s family and all the Lerret fisherfolk.The president of QEST presented Majorie Ireland with a bottle of champagne.A blessing was carried out by the Vicar Keith Vivien and a specially written song for the Lerret was sung by Sue Beckers. The boat was then carried through an archway of Cornish Pilot Gig oars, scattered with sea salt for safe passage at sea and then launched into Lyme's historic harbour,cradled by the arm of the Cobb.Littlesea was guided out to sea by the RNLI lifeboat ‘The Pearl of Dorset’,accompained by Vera the motherboat and escorted by Lyme's two Cornish Pilot Gigs,which were also build by Gail in 2008 and 2009.

Hope this helps paints a picture of launch day and the story of the Lerret.

Best wishes

Gail